Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1887-05-06
TIE PERRYSBURG SCHOOLS.

~ EDITOR OF JOURNAL I'll have tOr
several months been silent but quite in
terested observer of our schools and of
the manner in which they have been gov
erned and controlled, both by teachers and
the Board of Education, regrelting that
the schools were in the condition they
appeared 10 be, and hoping that il their
condition was such In fact, the Board
would take the necessary steps 10 correct
the matter. "Hope deferred maketh the
heart sisk," and know this ia true with
at least one individual, for, not having
the necessary means 10 send my children
away TO obtain those educational advan-
tages which l had reason TO expect here,
and which l am informed are contem-
plated by the school law, l had resigned
myself to what appeared TO be the inevi-
table, determined TO swatch and wait"
How prone we are, Mr.. Editor, when in
trouble, to grasp at slraws. When a week
or two since saw published in your paper
what rurpor,ed to be a petition 10 our
Board, signed by some of our most re-
sponsible aud reliable citizens, calling at
tention 10 the decentralization in our
schools, | consoled myself for the time be
ing, with the belief that the very proper
and reasonable request made in that petit
tiom would result in some benefit. But
how suddenly were all these hopes blasted,
when on reading your remarks introducto.
ry 10 the petition discovered that The pc
ution had to all intents and purposes
been already consigned to the waste ba,-
ket. am Informed that if some Of our
citizens had not been present at the meet
ing the public would probably never have
known that such "a petition had been pre-
sented or the relief asked for.
/ was somewhat further surprised, Mr..
Editor, that the new member of the Board,
Mr.. Chas. A. Power, should have been so
far Influenced us to he induced to sign an
article charging the sixteen signers of that
petition with being engaged in making
many dishonorahle attacks upon our
schools during The past year. / is true
my acquaintance with some of the signers
Of that petition is rather limited, YET as far
ms | know them they are men who, when
working 10 accomplish something that
shall he public benefit, do not allow
| themselves TO be swervtd from their pur-
pose by any petty personal spite or for
fear uf losing some perqni1ite or emolu-
ment, they or some NE mber of their family
may be receiving. So lar as know them
believe them TO be men who say earnest
ly and honestly what they believe 10 be
believed the CLAIMS as made were entirely
without foundation, YET as public officers
| they were under certain obligations To
| give the matter complained Of some con-
sideration. II however appears they
thought otherwise.
noIire the Superintendent in his reply
states that not one of the petitioners has
ever visited the schools. Upon making
some inquiries in regard 10 this fact
learned that only two members Of the
| Board had ever visited the schools "a tly-
ing Vlsli) anu that one or more oil the
schools the Superintendent had never Wis
lted II these are facts, nre not the re-
ports upon which The petition is based nj
least as reliable as the denals in the reply
OF the Superintendent?
MIR. Editor, / have never been 30 fortn-
nate an to enjoy the instruction OF first
class educators either at high grade Nor.
NAL school or at a College, and can't say
that | am familiar with the present meth
ods of teaching, but by observation have
learned there ia II wide difference between
thorough instruction and dicipline; and
that which il not 30. Ii ia possible that to
nome extent our present Superintendent
may not be alone responsible for the pre-
sent stale OF affairs as lave been told that
soon after the appointment Of the present
corps of teachers he said he was afraid the
board had made a mistake. II Is very appar-
ent mistake has been made by some one
and the schools show it,, and that a change
for the better may soon be effected ls the
earnest wish of
A FRIEND 10 THE SCHOOLS.